Automotive chassis

ABSTRACT

An automotive chassis of the type including a pair of longitudinally extending channels and a plurality of transverse cross members intersecting said channels, the transverse members being of a reduced cross section so as to define a longitudinally extending storage space intermediate the tops of the transverse cross members and the tops of the pair of channels, particularly such a construction used to support a longitudinally extending ramp slidable from the rear end of the chassis to facilitate loading of the truck.

PATE N TED F 2 Ian SHEET 1 0F 3 PATENTED FEB 2 I97! SHEEI 2 OF 3 Avrnm'CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Ramp Assembly (SerqNo.787,188), filed Dec. 26, I968.

In the earlier application, there was disclosed a ramp assembly,slidably positioned within a modified truck chassis. The ramp is storedbeneath the truck body and within the confines of the chassis, thenlongitudinally withdrawn from the rear of the chassis. As the ramp iswithdrawn, it is pivoted so that the ramp rear end touches the ground,providing an inclined walkway for truck loading.

The present application is restricted to the techniques for modifying achassis to provide for storage of such a ramp or other materials.

BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention In a typical truckchassis, the longitudinally extending beams and transverseinterconnecting struts substantially have the same cross section orheight. Very little consideration has been given to modifying orreducing the cross section of the transverse members so as to provide astorage space within the vertical confinesof the longitudinallyextending beams.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art searching has developed thefollowing: Harley 276,685, Leach 860,752, Huwyler 1,346,891, Pflaum7,758,372, Slater 2,082,663, Ratcliffe 2,169,661, Terry 2,398,730,Kelberer 2,457,380, Ferguson 2,900,094.

The prior art has directed itself principally to modifying the truckbottom, rather than the chassis, to accommodate slidable ramps.Consequently, the truck body had been required to be heightened by theamount necessary to enclose the slidable ramp. Harley, I-Iuwyler (FIG.2), Kelberer are typical in this respect, the slidable ramp assemblybeing positioned intermediate the bottom of the truck body and thechassis.

One inventor has positioned his ramp upon a rotatable drum. Ratcliffeand Slater were selected as showing the slidable positioning of rampelements on top of the truck body, virtually precluding use of the truckbody except for ramp storage purpose. Ferguson articulates his ramp atthe rear of the truck body (FIGS. 2 and 3). Terry was selected asshowing the vehicle body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, thetransverse members are constructed from rectangular tubing of reducedcross section and supported within the longitudinal channels by specialplates which abut the sides and top of the transverse members. Inaddition, the longitudinal members are downwardly inclined at their foreend, so as to support the entire assembly above the truck or automobilediflerential. Guide tracks are supported upon the transverse members, sothat a slidable ramp may be reciprocated therein. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective ofa conventional truck chassis, having longitudinally extending beams andtransverse members of substantially similar cross section or height;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of a chassis modified according tothe present {invention so as to provide a ramp storage space within theconfines of the longitudinally extending members;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan of the modified chassis assembly;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section, taken along section line 4-4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation;

FIG. 6 is a top plan of the front transverse member and supportingplates;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of one side of the FIG. 6construction;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation, taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 6;

the positioning of slidable structures upon a hinged support on FIG. 9is a top plan of the middle transverse member;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation from one side of the FIG. 9construction;

FIG. I1 is an end elevation taken along line I I-II of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan of the rear end of the chassis, asextended, and supporting the rear transverse member; and

FIG. I3 is a transverse scction, taken along section line l3-13 of FIG.12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 a conventionalchassis I0 is illustrated as having longitudinally extending beams orchannels 22' and 24 with intersecting transverse rear member 26', middlemember 28', and front member 30'.

In FIG. 2 a chassis, modified according to the present invention, isillustrated as having identical longitudinally extending beams 22 and 24with reduced cross section transverse rear member 26, middle member 28,andfront member 30. Identical tracks or guide channels 34 and 36 may besupported. on top of the transverse member ends as a guide for thewheeled ramp 32 stored within the chassis and shown in phantom.

In FIGS. 35, the chassis assembly is shown as extended by means ofextension channels 38 and 40 secured to the rear of the longitudinalchannels 22 and 24 by means of lugs 44 and 46. The rear transversemember 26 may be supported in these extension channels, which also maysupport ball socket web 48, ball socket 50, and horizontal guard members52 and 54.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, a locking lever 56 may be pivoted in theplates 53 and 55 which are supported above plates 52 and S4 and a pairof wheels 5878 may be rotatably supported at either sideas a guide forthe underside of the extended ramp.

As particularly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the forward portionsoflongitudinal beams 22 and 24 may be vertically downwardly extended orinclined so that the plane of ramp support will extend above thedifferential and drive shaft (il- Iustrated in phantom in FIG. 4).

The front transverse member 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 as beingconstructed of rectangular tubing 30 resting at either end upon plates64 which are secured to the longitudinal channel bottom by means ofmachine bolts or the like. Plate 64 includes vertical extension 65 whichextends along the front and rear sides of the member 30. A gusset member66 is secured to the vertical web of the channel by means of machinebolts or the like and extends over the top ends of member 30 andincludes flange member 67, also extending along the front and sides ofmember 30. As illustrated in FIG.

7, plate 64 may include a downwardly inclined leaf 68 which raises theentire storage assembly above the differential.

The middle transverse member 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 9- II, as havingidentical plates 70 at 72, each supported upon the bottom of the chassischannels and extending front and rear along the sides of member 28. Aslot 71 enables a gusset member 74 secured to the chassis web to extendthrough the plates 70 and 72 and abut the top of member 28.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, the rear transverse member 26 is illustrated assupported at either end upon the bottom of the channels 22 and 24. Agusset member is secured to the web of the channel and the gussetextension extends over the top of the member 26 end, gusset fingers 81extending on either side fore-and aft thereof.

As will be apparent, the transverse members may be variously configuredand various types of ramp tracks and locking elements may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In an automotive chassis of the type embodying a pair oflongitudinally extending beams and a plurality of transverse membersinterconnecting said beams, the improvement com prising:

a. reduced cross section transverse members abuttingly supported ateither end upon said beams;

b. a pair of longitudinal guide channels supported above and upon saidcross members, such that the combined height of said cross members andsaid guide channels is less than the height of said beams; and

c. a ramp having a wheeled member at one end engaging said guidechannels and slidably supported on said cross members, so as to beextensible from one end of said chassis.

2. An automotive chassis as in claim I, said pair of channels beingdownwardly inclined at their forward end, so as to support a fronttransverse member above the automotive differential and drive shaft.

3. An automotive chassis as in claim 1:

said front transverse member including at each end;

i. a bottom plate secured to the bottom of said longitudinal channelsand extending beneath and on either side of said transverse member;

ii. a gusset member secured to the vertically upstanding web' of saidlongitudinal channel and extending on either side and above said fronttransverse member;

a middle transverse member including at each end;

i. a pair of plates secured to the bottom of said channel and extendingon either side of said middle transverse member;

ii. a gusset member secured to the web of said longitudinal channels andextending through said plates and above said middle transverse member;and

a rear transverse member resting upon the bottom of said longitudinallyextending channels and including at each end;

i. a gusset member secured to the web of said channels and extending ontop of the rear transverse member ends and on the sides thereof.

4. An automotive chassis as in claim 3, said front transverse memberplates being downwardly and outwardly inclined so as to support saidtransverse member above the level of said longitudinal channel bottomsand above the differential of said automotive vehicle.

5. An automotive chassis as in claim 4, wherein:

said ramp has a wheeled yoke pivoted to its front end such that thewheels of said yoke engage said guide channels so as to be extensiblefrom the rear of said' chassis, the ramp when extended being pivotabledownwardly with respect to said yoke and said guide channels.

6. An automotive chassis as in claim 5, including a pair of extensionchannel secured to the rear end of said longitudinal channels so as toextend the length of said channels and said rear transverse member beingsupported at its ends upon said extension channels.

7. An automotive chassis as in claim 6, including:

a pivoted ramp locking member and a ball socket assembly supported atthe end of said extension members.

8. An automotive chassis as in claim 7, including:

a pair of wheeled members supported in said extension channels, so as torotatably engage the underside of said ramp while being extended throughthe rear of said chas- SIS.

1. In an automotive chassis of the type embodying a pair oflongitudinally extending beams and a plurality of transverse membersinterconnecting said beams, the improvement comprising: a. reduced crosssection transverse members abuttingly supported at either end upon saidbeams; b. a pair of longitudinal guide channels supported above and uponsaid cross members, such that the combined height of said cross membersand said guide channels is less than the height of said beams; and c. aramp having a wheeled member at one end engaging said guide channels andslidably supported on said cross members, so as to be extensible fromone end of said chassis.
 2. An automotive chassis as in claim 1, saidpair of channels being downwardly inclined at their forward end, so asto support a front transverse member above the automotive differentialand drive shaft.
 3. An automotive chassis as in claim 1: said fronttransverse member including at each end; i. a bottom plate secured tothe bottom of said longitudinal channels and extending beneath and oneither side of said transverse member; ii. a gusset member secured tothe vertically upstanding web of said longitudinal channel and extendingon either side and above said front transverse member; a middletransverse member including at each end; i. a pair of plates secured tothe bottom of said channel and extending on either side of said middletransverse member; ii. a gusset member secured to the web of saidlongitudinal channels and extending through said plates and above saidmiddle transverse member; and a rear transverse member resting upon thebottom of said longitudinally extending channels and including at eachend; i. a gusset member secured to the web of said channels andextending on top of the rear transverse member ends and on the sidesthereof.
 4. An automotive chassis as in claim 3, said front transversemember plates being downwardly and outwardly inclined so as to supportsaid transverse member above the level of said longitudinal channelbottoms and above the differential of said automotive vehicle.
 5. Anautomotive chassis as in claim 4, wherein: said ramp has a wheeled yokepivoted to its front end such that the wheels of said yoke engage saidguide channels so as to be extensible from the rear of said chassis, theramp when extended being pivotable downwardly with respect to said yokeand said guide channels.
 6. An automotive chassis as in claim 5,including a pair of extension channel secured to the rear end of saidlongitudinal channels so as to extend the length of said channels andsaid rear transverse member being supported at its ends upon saidextension channels.
 7. An automotive chassis as in claim 6, including: apivoted ramp locking member and a ball socket assembly supported at theend of said extension members.
 8. An automotive chassis as in claim 7,including: a pair of wheeled members supported in said extensionchannels, so as to rotatably engage the underside of said ramp whilebeing extended through the rear of said chassis.